For people with a sweet tooth, desserts are very hard to pass up. But no matter how tasty and tempting they are, it should be noted that desserts contain high amounts of sugar and fat. This is where portion control comes into play but even so, not everyone has the willpower to stop themselves from going for seconds. So if you’re a self-declared dessert queen and can’t live without sweet goods, why not recreate healthier versions of your favourite desserts that are lower in calories, yet still, taste good?

Desserts don’t necessarily have to be bad for the body. What’s more, these 6 guilt-free recipes don’t take much time and effort. P.S. Not only are they a crowd-pleaser, but they’re also perfect for slumber parties and picnics with friends!

Note: This list is strictly not in order.

1. Chia Seed Pudding

Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, chia seeds take the centre stage in this very first recipe. This gorgeous dessert makes for a sweet breakfast treat or an after-dinner dessert. In other words, you can have it anytime you please!

Preparation time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of chia seeds

2 tablespoons of honey

1/2 cup of milk

Steps:

  1. Mix milk and chia seeds together in a cup.
  2. Add in the honey.
  3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  4. Garnish with fruit or your preferred toppings and serve.

2. Guilt-free Brownies

Brownies are a decadent dessert that remains a crowd favourite no matter the time or occasion. You must be thinking there’s no way brownies can be healthy. Well, neither did we, but this recipe is set to prove us all wrong!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

Cooking spray

3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup of oat flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of kosher salt

1/2 cup of almond butter

1/2 cup of coconut sugar

1/3 cup of honey

1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 180° and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray.
  2.  In a large bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, almond flour, baking soda, and salt. 
  3. In another bowl, whisk together almond butter, coconut sugar, honey, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. 
  4. Later, add dry ingredients and fold it in with a spatula until it’s fully incorporated.
  5. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 22-25 minutes.
  6. Take it out of the oven and let it rest for at least 20 minutes.
  7. To serve, cut into little squares.

3. Healthy Cheesecake with Berry Compote

Cheesecakes are everyone’s favourite dessert for a good reason. With the addition of Greek Yoghurt, this creamy and delectable treat gets an even lighter touch that keeps you craving for more. Low in calories, this healthy treat is both tasty and easy to make as well!

Preparation time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

Crust

1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs (gluten-free, if needed)

5 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

Cheesecake

2 blocks of low-fat cream cheese, room temperature 

1 3/4 cups of plain Greek yoghurt, room temperature

2/3 cup of granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 teaspoon of lemon juice

Berry Compote

1 1/2 cups of mixed berries of your choice

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 180º.
  2. In a small bowl combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar and stir until it is combined.
  3. Press the graham crackers onto a 9″ or 10″ springform pan that is lined with parchment paper.
  4. Bake the crust for 8 minutes or until it’s completely set.
  5. After 8 minutes, take it out of the oven and let it cool.
  6. For the Cheesecake mixture, start by whipping the cream cheese for about a minute.
  7. Then add in sugar, greek yoghurt, vanilla and lemon juice and whip for about 3 minutes.
  8. Next, lower the speed of your mixer and add the eggs slowly.
  9. After the mixture is complete, pour it into the springform pan.
  10. Wrap the springform pan with aluminium foil and place it on a water bath.
  11. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the middle is set.
  12. After letting the cheesecake cool, refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  13. For the berry compote bring berries and juice to a boil in a pan and simmer for about 10.
  14. To serve, simply cut the cheesecake into slices and pour the berry compote to enjoy.

4. Healthy Chocolate Truffles

Who says truffles have to be unhealthy? Our recipe combines the best of both worlds by including smooth dark chocolate and avocado into the mixture for a richer chocolate texture. These cocoa covered balls of goodness taste divine and are absolutely worth making!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup of dark chocolate 

1 medium-sized avocado

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon of salt

1/4 cup of cocoa powder

Steps:

  1. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler.
  2. Whilst the chocolate is melting, mash one medium avocado in another bowl.
  3. Combine the melted chocolate with avocado, vanilla, and salt and stir till well combined.
  4. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes just so it firms up slightly.
  5. Next, use a small spoon and roll the chocolate to make balls.
  6. Then, roll the balls in cocoa powder and it’ll be ready to eat!

5. Best Berry Crumble

This recipe is a healthy twist to the classic picnic dish – Berry Crumble Pie. Serve this delicious baked crumble to your friends and they’ll be thankful it won’t make them pack on pounds because it’s so good, they’ll ask for second servings!

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

Crumble

3/4 cup of all-purpose flour

1/2 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup of packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup of granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

Filling

2 1/2 cups of fresh raspberries

2 cups of fresh blueberries

1 cup of fresh blackberries

1/3 cup of caster sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 375º. Grease a baking dish of your preferred size.
  2. To make the crumble whisk together flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
  3. When fully combined, incorporate the butter by mashing it using your fingertips. Until the crumbs look like a dry paste. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  4. To start the filling, rinse the berries and transfer them to a bowl.
  5. Whisk together the caster sugar and cornstarch and pour it over the berries.
  6. Then transfer the berries onto your baking dish and cover it with the crumble.
  7. Bake for about 230-35 minutes till the crumble is crispy.
  8. Simply dig in, or serve with vanilla ice cream.

6. Healthy Hot Chocolate

This healthy rendition of the hearty hot chocolate is sure to warm your body inside out. Treat yourself to this yummy drink which is especially perfect for cold days and movie marathon nights without worrying about the amount of sugar!

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup of milk of your choice (We recommend oat or almond milk!)

2 1/2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup 

A pinch of kosher salt

1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate 

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. In a saucepan, heat the milk until it starts to simmer.
  2. Add in the cocoa powder, maple syrup, and salt and whisk till combined.
  3. Next, add the dark chocolate, vanilla and maple syrup to taste.
  4. Pour into a mug and it is served.

 

With these 6 healthy recipes, no one will ever go hungry again at the next slumber party! Delicious and nutritious, these desserts are guaranteed to satisfy those who enjoy sweet treats yet have no intention of putting on weight. Happy cooking and baking!